Canada’s economy added almost 11,000 jobs in July, the eighth consecutive month of growth, as the unemployment rate fell to its lowest point in almost nine years, Statistics Canada (StatsCan) reported on Friday.

The pace of job growth slowed, however, with 10,900 net new positions, down from an increase of 45,300 in June. The number of full-time jobs grew by 35,100, offset by the loss of 24,300 part-time jobs.

The unemployment rate declined by 0.2 percentage points to 6.3%, its lowest level since October 2008 as the number of people looking for work dropped.

“After a run of huge gains, nobody is going to complain about the more moderate hiring pace that Canada saw in July, and the attention instead will focus on yet another drop in the jobless rate,” said Avery Shenfeld, chief economist with CIBC Capital Markets, in a note to clients.

“The two tick drop to 6.3% in that measure was mostly a story of weaker labour force participation, although the 11,000 increase in employment was buttressed by a hefty 35,000 gain in full-time jobs.”

Compared with a year ago, the number of jobs increased by 388,0000, driven by an increase in 354,000 full-time positions.

The labour force numbers came as StatisCan also reported that the country’s trade deficit rose to $3.6 billion in June from a shortfall of $1.4 billion the previous month. Exports fell 4.3% to $46.5 billion, while imports climbed 0.3% to $50.1 billion.

“The wider trade deficit might be seen as a slight negative for the [Canadian dollar], but the tight jobless rate will keep chatter alive about an October rate hike,” Shenfeld added, referring to speculation that the Bank of Canada could hike its key benchmark interest rate again.

Last month, the central bank raised the rate to 0.75%, the first increase in almost seven years.